This was the second time God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and this time Jonah reluctantly obeyed. Jonah warned the people of Nineveh to repent. The people believed God, and they proclaimed a fast and everyone put on sackcloth.

Note that it was the people of Nineveh who first obeyed and proclaimed the fast. Then the king followed the people and dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. No one was to eat or drink, and everyone was called to repent. Because they repented, God did not punish them.

Earlier the crowd, in today's Gospel, had demanded a sign from Jesus. Jesus condemned that request by calling them wicked and saying that only the sign of Jonah would be given. What was that sign? The three days Jesus spent in the tomb mirrored the three days Jonah spent in the belly of the fish, so it foreshadowed the resurrection. Jonah preached the judgement of God and the people of Nineveh repented.

Jesus also mentioned that the Queen of Sheba had gone to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Yet, Jesus was greater than Jonah or Solomon, and the people didn't realise it. If only they would listen - truly listen with their hearts - and repent of their evil ways. Let us truly open our hearts to hear what God is telling us today. Silence provides that opportunity.